Confidence is something that comes and goes throughout your life, depending on who you surround yourself with and your state of mind. Sometimes you might need to spent some time building your confidence levels up, and other times you might feel like you have a ready supply. Either way, having some tips on hand when you need a boost is key. So here are nine ways to give yourself a little pep talk right when you might need it most.
1. Love what you eat
As you know, the food you eat has a very real impact on your overall health and happiness, and that often translates into how confident you feel. Eating the same things over and over will not only bore you, but you won’t get a great range of nutrients. Keep meals fun and interesting by changing up your routine and ensuring that you are experimenting with fun and healthy dishes.
2. Do something out of your comfort zone
Doing things that scare you is actually great for your mental health. Striving to push yourself to try new things, however, will show you that you can overcome anything you put your mind to and will ultimately improve your self-image. Take small steps and slowly start to push yourself into situations that you know will be beneficial for you; even if they are a bit uncomfortable at first, it’ll be worth it in the long run. Promise.
3. Challenge yourself to an exercise routine
Back up your healthy eating with an exercise routine that challenges you and that you also enjoy. The endorphins produced by exercise are crucial for putting you in a happier state of mind and can be achieved in a variety of ways. It’s key to find the routine that works best for you, whether that’s running, a daily gym session or even dance classes. Find the activity that inspires you most and get your body moving!
4. Take a break from social media
If you find that looking at your phone all day is bringing you down and you’re experiencing negative thoughts about yourself when you scroll, take a break! Delete your social media for a while, or limit yourself to a certain amount of time per day to bring the focus back to yourself and your achievements rather than what other people are doing with their lives. You could even turn off your phone altogether sometimes to force you to be present.
5. Practice positive affirmations
Repeating positive thoughts to yourself, actually works amazingly for boosting your perception of self and putting yourself in a happier frame of mind. You can try repeating some in front of the mirror each morning or just in your head whenever you feel like it to reset your system and reinforce that you are capable of achieving anything you put your mind to.
6. Practice confident body language
Forcing yourself to smile, even when you really don’t want to, has proven effective for convincing your brain that you are happy. Posture is also a great way to convey confidence, even if you’re not particularly feeling it at the time. Eventually you will also begin to believe your body language and blossom into a more confident person.
7. Do things that make you happy
One of the best ways to boost your confidence and positivity is to do things that you know make you happy. Whether that’s engaging in your favourite hobbies, spending time with friends and family, or taking a little holiday, focus on things that improve the quality of your life and allow yourself to spend time doing them. Finding a balance in your life that allows you to participate in fun will ensure that you maintain a well-rounded lifestyle and will help you to feel more positively towards yourself.
8. Treat yourself
If you’re having a particularly bad day, it is important to make sure that you look after yourself. It is often beneficial to allow yourself to have a treat to feel better and understand that we all have setbacks and it’s nothing to beat yourself up about. To reward yourself for your journey so far, try indulging in a relaxing spa day, treating yourself to your favourite food or buying yourself a nice new outfit that you feel great in. Looking after your body and mind and listening to what you need will help you become more in touch with yourself and ultimately boost your self-confidence.
9. Celebrate your victories… no matter how small!
It’s important at any stage of your confidence journey to recognise your achievements, no matter how big or small, and congratulate yourself for having the courage to keep going. Sometimes it’s an achievement to simply get out of bed or to do ten minutes of exercise. Recognise when you are doing your best and allow yourself to celebrate each step that you take on your continuous journey towards confidence.
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